J Korean Acad Rehabil Med.  2010 Feb;34(1):1-9.

Effects of Enriched Environment on Locomotion and Cognition in Neonatal Rats with Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy

• Yang SS
• Sohn MK
• Kim BO
• Choi PS
• Kim SG

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of environmental enrichment on the cognitive and motor development in the experimental hypoxia-ischemic encephalopathy neonatal rat model. METHOD: Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy models were made in neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats at 3 days of age by ligating the unilateral carotid artery followed by inhalation of 8% oxygen and raised in the enriched environment (n=10), treadmill exercise (n=8) and non-stimulation (n=10) from the 3rd to 8th weeks of age. Neurobehavioral and histopathological changes were compared.
RESULTS
The neurobehavioral tests of the rats with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy showed prolonged latencies of achievement for cliff avoidance and negative geotaxis (p<0.05). Persisting abnormality into adult life of limb placing improved in exercise and enriched environment groups and spatial learning and memory in a water maze recovered in the rats with enriched environment (p<0.05). The density of dendritic spine increased in the hippocampus with enriched environment (p<0.05).
CONCLUSION
The present study supports the possibilities of the positive effects after the enriched environment in the developing brain with hypoxic injury.

Keyword

Enriched environment; Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy; Neonate; Rat

MeSH Terms

Achievement
Adult
Animals
Brain
Carotid Arteries
Cognition
Dendritic Spines
Extremities
Hippocampus
Humans
Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain
Infant, Newborn
Inhalation
Learning
Locomotion
Memory
Oxygen
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Oxygen